Victoria to go it alone on mobile blackspots program, accusing federal government of pork barreling

An audit found 80 per cent of phone towers were built in Coalition electorates under the federal government's blackspot program. Picture: DARREN HOWE

MORE than 30 locations in Bendigo have been raised as mobile phone blackspots, but they were overlooked in the first three rounds of the federal government’s blackspots program.

The Victorian government has now abandoned the last round of the scheme and will deliver the final $11 million itself to build new towers in regional Victoria in consultation with councils, Emergency Management Victoria and regional partnerships.

The state’s innovation minister Philip Dalidakis made the announcement on Wednesday, accusing the federal government of using the program for pork barreling in Coalition seats.

In 2016, the National Audit Office found 80 per cent of locations for new mobile phone towers were in Coalition electorates, and fewer than seven per cent were in Labor-held seats.

In the first round, 25 per cent of new towers did not provide new or extended coverage.